Minor girl alleges misbehaviour inside Puri Srimandir

Puri: A day after servitors observed a shutdown for several hours at Puri Srimandir protesting an alleged assault of a sevayat by police personnel, a minor girl was allegedly misbehaved by police personnel near Bahara Katha of the temple today morning. The police constable, identified as Chhukesh Meher of IRB Ninth Battalion was detained by the Singhadwar police. Later he was put under suspension.

The girl along with her family members who hail from Jajpur Road area had lodged a complaint at the Singhadwara police station earlier in the day.

As per the charges levelled by the girl, the accused police personnel touched her inappropriately while she was standing with her father and mother near the Bahara Katha to have darshan of the deities.

"I was waiting to take darshan of Lord Jagannath when a police wearing a black jacket touched me. I was shocked to see the official's action," the girl told mediapersons.

Sources said Meher was transferred from Koraput and posted in Puri as part of platoon deployed near the 12th century shrine ahead of new year.